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[Perinatal risk factors and motor deficiency due to cerebral palsy]
1Unité de Recherches Epidémiologiques sur la Santé des Femmes et des Enfants, INSERM U-149, Paris.
Insights
Cerebral palsy prevalence remains high despite improved perinatal care, particularly in very preterm infants. Prevention strategies must address maternal and antenatal risk factors early in pregnancy.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Perinatal Medicine
- Public Health
Abstract:
Despite improvement in perinatal care, the prevalence of cerebral palsy has not decreased in France, Sweden, the United Kingdom or Australia. Based on a review of recent publications, the course of cerebral palsy can be partially explained by the increase in risk among very low birthweight and very pre-term infants whose survival is now better. Until recently, many publications have supported the hypothesis that asphyxia at birth was the major cause of cerebral palsy. However, these results have been widely questioned; the role of asphyxia remained unclear. In 1993 and 1994, several publications showed that there is a significant relationship between asphyxia and cerebral palsy, but that the role of asphyxia was overestimated in the past. The role of maternal and antenatal risk factors must also be taken into account. The prevention of cerebral palsy must be undertaken very early in pregnancy.